Automatic allocation of physical facilities

Abstract

Physical space is allocated to members of a group to maximize collaborative efforts. Each member of the group is determined based on presence or detection of a wireless device. As the members of the group are wirelessly detected, physical space may be assigned based on historical usage, calendar entries, physical needs, and infrastructure traits. Desks, office space, conference rooms, and other facilities may thus be dynamically reserved to maximize collaboration and yet efficiently utilize existing physical spaces.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a processing system including a processor, a unique identifier of a wireless communication device;   querying, by the processing system, a database for the unique identifier;   in accordance with the querying resulting in matching an entry of the database with the unique identifier, authorizing, by the processing system, access to a secure physical space by a user associated with the unique identifier, wherein the user is a member of a group; and   dynamically determining, by the processing system, the physical space based on a membership of the group.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising assigning, by the processing system, the physical space to the group. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the processing system, a notification that the wireless communication device is requesting access to a wireless network. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the notification includes the unique identifier, the unique identifier comprising a cellular identifier. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising retrieving, by the processing system, historical data regarding access to the wireless network by the wireless communication device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 predicting, by the processing system based on the historical data, a location of the wireless communication device; and   ordering, by the processing system based on the predicting, building services related to the physical space.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the ordering the building services comprises ordering building services along a predicted route of the wireless communication device to the physical space. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the group comprises the user and invitees of the user, and further comprising notifying, by the processing system, the invitees that the access to the physical space by the user has been authorized. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising activating, by the processing system, a lock to permit entry to the physical space. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating, by the processing system, a reservation associated with the physical space. 
     
     
         11 . A device comprising:
 a processing system including a processor; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations comprising:   receiving a unique identifier of a wireless communication device;   querying a database for the unique identifier;   in accordance with the querying resulting in matching an entry of the database with the unique identifier, authorizing access to a secure physical space by a user associated with the unique identifier, wherein the user is a member of a group comprising invitees of the user; and   dynamically determining the physical space based on a membership of the group.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise assigning the physical space to the group. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving a notification that the wireless communication device is requesting access to a wireless network. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise notifying the invitees that the access to the physical space by the user has been authorized. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise generating a reservation associated with the physical space. 
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations comprising:
 receiving a unique identifier of a wireless communication device;   querying a database for the unique identifier;   in accordance with the querying resulting in matching an entry of the database with the unique identifier, authorizing access to a secure physical space by a user associated with the unique identifier, wherein the user is a member of a group of members;   notifying members of the group that the access has been authorized; and   dynamically determining the physical space based on a membership of the group.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise assigning the physical space to the group. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving a notification that the wireless communication device is requesting access to a wireless network. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the group comprises the user and invitees of the user. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise generating a reservation associated with the physical space.